Monday, August 24, 2020

Interview with Mr Ngiam Tong Dow, former head of the civil service, in 2003. Q. With all this pessimism surrounding Singapore's prospects today, what's your personal prognosis? Will Singapore survive Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew? A. Unequivocally yes, Singapore will survive SM Lee but provided he leaves the right legacy. What sort of legacy he wants to leave is for him to say, but I, a blooming upstart, dare to suggest to him that we should open up politically and allow talent to be spread throughout our society so that an alternative leadership can emerge.So far, the People's Action Party's tactic is to put all the scholars into the civil service because it believes the way to retain political power forever is to have a monopoly on talent. But in my view, that's a very short term view. It is the law of nature that all things must atrophy. Unless SM allows serious political challenges to emerge from the alternative elite out there, the incumbent elite will just coast along. At the first sign of a grassroots revolt, they will probably collapse just like the incumbent Progressive Party to the left-wing PAP onslaught in the late 1950s. I think our leaders have to accept that Singapore is larger than the PAP. Q. What would be a useful first step in opening up? A. For Singapore to survive, we should release half our talent - our President and Overseas Merit scholars - to the private sector. When ten scholars come home, five should turn to the right and join the public sector or the civil service; the other five should turn to the left and join the private sector. These scholars should serve their bond to Singapore - not to the Government - by working in or for Singapore overseas. As matters stand, those who wish to strike out have to break their bonds, pay a financial penalty and worse, be condemned as quitters. But it takes a certain temperament and mindset to be a civil servant. The former head of the civil service,Sim Kee Boon, once said that joining the administrative service is like entering a royal priesthood. Not all of us have the temperament to be priests. However upright a person is, the mandarin will in time begin to live a gilded life in a gilded cage. As a Permanent Secretary, I never had to worry whether I could pay my staff their wages. It was all provided for in the Budget. As chairman of DBS Bank, I worried about wages only 20 per cent of the time. I now face my greatest business challenge as chairman of HDB Corp, a new start-up spun off from HDB. I spend 90 per cent of my time worrying whether I have enough to pay my staff at the end of the month. It's a mental switch. Q. What is your biggest worry about the civil service? A. The greatest danger is we are flying on auto-pilot. What was once a great policy, we just carry on with more of the same, until reality intervenes. Take our industrial policy. At the beginning, it was the right thing for us to attract multinationals to Singapore. For some years now, I've been trying to tell everybody: 'Look, for God's sake, grow our own timber.' If we really want knowledge to be rooted in Singaporeans and based in Singapore, we have to support our SMEs. I'm not a supporter of SMEs just for the sake of more SMEs, but we must grow our own roots. Creative Technology's Sim Wong Hoo is one and Hyflux's Olivia Lum is another but that's too few. We have been flying on auto-pilot for too long. The MNCs have contributed a lot to Singapore but they are totally unsentimental people. The moment you're uncompetitive, they just relocate. Q. Why has this come about? A. I suspect we have started to believe our own propaganda. There is also a particular brand of Singapore elite arrogance creeping in. Some civil servants behave like they have a mandate from the emperor. We think we are little Lee Kuan Yews. SM Lee has earned his spurs, with his fine intellect and international standing. But even Lee Kuan Yew sometimes doesn't behave like Lee Kuan Yew. There is also a trend of intellectualisation for its own sake, which loses a sense of the pragmatic concerns of the larger world. The Chinese, for example, keep good archives of the Imperial examinations which used to be held at the Temple of Heaven. At the beginning, the scholars were tested on very practical subjects, such as how to control floods in their province. But over time, they were examined on the Confucian Analects and Chinese poetry composition. Hence, they became emasculated by the system, a worrying fate which could befall Singapore. Q. But aren't you an exception to the norm of the gilded mandarin with zero bottomline consciousness? A. That's because I started out with Economic Development Board in the 1959. Investment promotion then was all about hard foot slogging and personal persuasion, which teaches you to be very humble and patient. I learnt to be a supplicant and a professional beggar, instead of a dispenser of favours. These days, most civil servants start out administering the law. If I had my way, every administrative officer would start his or her career in the EDB. Hard foot slogging. Q. YOUR idea of creating an alternate elite is not new. What do you think of the oft-mooted suggestion of achieving that splitting ranks within the People's Action Party? A. Quite honestly, if you ask me, Team A-and-Team B is a synthetic and infantile idea. If you want to challenge the Government, it must be spontaneous. You have to allow some of your best and brightest to remain outside your reach and let them grow spontaneously. How do you know their leadership will not be as good as yours? But if you monopolise all the talent, there will never be an alternative leadership. And alternatives are good for Singapore. Q. In your calculation, what are the odds of this alternative replacing the incumbent? A. Of course there's a political risk. Some of these chaps may turn out to be your real opposition, but that is the risk the PAP has to take if it really wants Singapore to endure. A model we should work towards is the French model of the elite administration. The very brightest of France all go to university or college. Some emerge Socialists, others Conservative, some work in industries, some work in government. Yet, at the end of the day, when the chips are down, they are all Frenchmen. No member of the French elite will ever think of betraying his country, never. That is the sort of Singapore elite we want. It doesn't mean that all of us must belong to the PAP. That is very important. Q. What do bad times mean for the PAP, which has based its legitimacy on providing the economic goods and asset enhancement? Is its social compact with the people in need of an update? Oh yes. And my advice is: Go back to Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's old credo, where nobody owes us a living. After I had just taken over as the Housing Board's chairman in 2000, an astute academic asked me: 'Tong Dow, what's your greatest problem at HDB?' Then he diagnosed it himself: 'Initially, you gave peanuts to monkeys so they would dance to your tune. Now you've given them so much by way of peanuts that the monkey has become a gorilla and you have to dance to its tune. That's your greatest problem.' Our people have become over-fed and today's economic realities mean we have to put them on a crash diet. We cannot starve them because there will be a political explosion. So the art of government today is to wean everyone off the dispensable items. We should just concentrate on helping the poorest 5 to 10 per cent of the population, instead of handing out a general largesse. Forget about asset enhancement, Singapore shares and utility rebates. You're dancing to the tune of the gorilla. I don't understand the urgency of raising the Goods and Services Tax. Why tax the lower-income, then return it to them in an aid package? It demeans human dignity and creates a growing supplicant class who habitually hold out their palms. Despite the fact that we say we are not a welfare state, we act like one of the most 'welfarish' states in the world. We should appeal instead to people's sense of pride and self-reliance. I think political courage is needed here. And my instinct is that the Singaporean will respect you for that. Q. So what should this new compact consist of? A. It should go back to what was originally promised: 'That you shall be given the best education, whether it be academic or vocational, according to your maximum potential.' And there will be no judgment whether an engineer is better than a doctor or a chef. My late mother was a great woman. Although illiterate, she single-handedly brought up four boys and a girl. She used to say in Hainanese: 'If you have one talent which you excel in, you will never starve.' I think the best legacy to leave is education and equal opportunity for all. When the Hainanese community came to Singapore, they were the latest arrivals and the smallest in number. So they had no choice but to become humble houseboys, waiters and cooks. But they always wanted their sons to have a better life than themselves. The great thing about Singapore was that we could get an education, which gave us mobility, despite coming from the poorest families. Today, the Hainanese, as a dialect group, form proportionately the highest number of professionals in Singapore. Q. You say focus on education. What is top of your wishlist for re-making Singapore's education system? A. Each year, the PSLE creams off all the top boys and girls and dispatches them to only two schools, Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls' School. However good these schools are, the problem is you are educating your elite in only two institutions, with only two sets of mentors, and casting them in more or less the same mould. It worries me that Singapore is only about 'one brand' because you never know what challenges lie ahead and where they will come from. I think we should spread out our best and brightest to at least a dozen schools. Q. You advocate a more inclusive mindset all around? A. Yes, intellectually, everyone has to accept that the country of Singapore is larger than the PAP. But even larger than the country of Singapore, which is limited by size and population, is the nation of Singapore, which includes a diaspora. My view is that we should have a more inclusive approach to nation-building. We have started the Majulah Connection, an international network where every Singaporean - whether he is a citizen or not, so long as he feels for Singapore - is included as part of our diaspora. Similarly, we should include foreigners who have worked and thrived here as friends of Singapore. That's the only way to survive. Otherwise, its just four million people on a little red dot of 600 sq km. If you exclude people, you become smaller and smaller, and in the end, you'll disappear. Q. What is the kind of Singapore you hope your grandchildren will inherit? A. Let's look at Sparta and Athens, two city states in Greek history. Singapore is like Sparta, where the top students are taken away from their parents as children and educated. Cohort by cohort, they each select their own leadership, ultimately electing their own Philosopher King. When I first read Plato's Republic, I was totally dazzled by the great logic of this organisational model where the best selects the best. But when I reached the end of the book, it dawned on me that though the starting point was meritocracy, the end result was dictatorship and elitism. In the end, that was how Sparta crumbled. Yet, Athens, a city of philosophers known for its different schools of thought, survived. What does this tell us about out-of-bounds markers? So SM Lee has to think very hard what legacy he wants to leave for Singapore and the type of society he wants to leave behind. Is it to be a Sparta, a well-organised martial society, but in the end, very brittle; or an untidy Athens which survived because of its diversity of thinking? Personally, I believe that Singaporeans are not so kuai (Hokkien for obedient) as to become a Sparta. This is our saving grace. As a young senior citizen, I very much hope that Singapore will survive for a long time, but as an Athens. It is more interesting and worth living and dying for. The crash of SilkAir Flight MI185 took the lives of 104 people, but set one person free, metaphorically speaking.

Thursday, March 29, 2012



MENTAL TOOL





EMOTIONAL TOOL


FRUITS of the spirit (the good, the bad and the ugly)

abased
abashed
abated
abducted
aberrant
aberration
abhorred
abhorrent
abiding
abject
ablaze
able
abnormal
aboard
abolished
abominable
aboriginal aborted
abortive
abounding
about
above average
abrasive
abrupt
absent
absent-minded
absolved
absorbed
absorbent
absorbing
abstemious
abstract
absurd
abstracted
abulic
abused
abusive
abysmal abyssal
accelerated
acceptable
accepted
accepting
accessible
accident-prone
accidental
acclaimed
acclimated
accommodated
accommodating
accomplished
accosted
accosting
accountable
accredited
acrid
accurate
accursed
accusatory accused
accusing
acerbic
aching
acknowledged
acquiescent
acquisitive
acrimonious
activated
active
actualized
accurate
ad hoc
adaptable
adapted
adamant
addicted
addled
adept
adequate
adhered to adhering
adhesive
adjoined
adjoined to
adjoined with
adjoining
admirable
admiration
admired
admiring
admonished
adopted
adorable
adored
adoring
adorned
adrift
adroit
adult
adulterated
adulterous advanced
adventurous
adverse
affable
affected
affection
affectionate
affirmed
afflicted
affluent
affray
affrayed
affronted
aflutter
afraid
against
agape
aggrandized
aggravated
aggressive
aggrieved aghast
agitated
aglow
agnostic
agog
agonized
agonizing
agony
agoraphobic
agreeable
ahead
ail
ailed
aimless
airy
alarmed
alcoholic
alert
alien
alienated
alike alive
alleged
allied
allowed
allowing
allured
alluring
alone
aloof
almighty
alright
altruistic
amateur
amazed
amazing
ambiguous
ambitious
ambivalent
ambushed
amenable
amiable amorous
ample
amuck
amused
amusing
analytical
analyzed
anarchistic
anchored
ancient
anemic
anesthetized
angry
angst
angsty*
anguish
anguished
anhedonic
animalistic
animated
animosity annihilated
annoyed
annoying
anointed
anonymous
antagonistic
antagonized
anticipation
antique
antiquated
antisocial
antsy
anxiety
anxious
apart
apathetic
apathy
apologetic
apoplectic
apologized to
appalled
appealed
appealing
appeased
applauded
appraised
appreciated
appreciative
apprehension
apprehensive
approachable
appropriate
approved
approved of
approving
aquiver
archaic
ardent
arduous
argued with
argumentative
aristocratic armored
aroused
arrogant
artful
articulate
artificial
artistic
artless
ascetic
ashamed
asinine
asleep
asocial
asphyxiated
aspiring
assaulted
assertive
assessed
assisted
assuaged
assured astonished
astonishing
astounded
astute
asymmetrical
at a loss
at ease
at home
at peace
at peril
at rest
at risk
at war
ataraxic
atrocious
atrophied
attached
attacked
attentive
attracted
attractive attuned
atypical
audacious
auspicious
austere
authentic
authoritarian
authoritative
autistic
autocratic
automated
automatic
available
avaricious
avenged
average
aversion
aversive
avid
avoided
awake awakened
aware
awe
awed
awesome
awestruck
awful
awkward
awry
axiomatic

B
=========
babied
babyish
backward
bad
bad-tempered
badgered baffled
baited
balanced
ballistic
bamboozled
banal
banished
bankrupt
banned
bantered
bare
barracked
barraged
barbarous
barbarous
barred
barren
base
bashful
battered
battle-weary battle-worn
batty
bawdy
bawled out
bearable
bearish
beastly
beat
beaten
beaten down
beatific
beautiful
beckoned
bedazzled
bedeviled
bedraggled
befitting
befriended
befuddled
beggarly
begged begrudged
beguiled
behind
beholden
beleaguered
belittled
bellicose
belligerent
belonging
below average
beloved
bemeaned
bemused
benevolent
benign
bent
berated
bereaved
bereft
berserk
beseeched beset
besieged
besmirched
besotted
bested
bestial
betrayed
better
bewildered
bewitched
bewitching
biased
big
bilious
bitched at
bitchin'
bitchy
biting
bitter
bittersweet
bizarre black
blackened
blacklisted
blackmailed
blah
blame free
blamed
blameless
blaming
bland
blank
blanketed
blase
blasphemous
blasted
bleak
bled
bleeding
blessed
blighted
blind
bliss
blissful
blithe
blocked
bloodthirsty
bloody
bloody-minded
bloomed
blooming
blossomed
blossoming
blown apart
blown around
blown away
blown to bits
blown to pieces
blown up
bludgeoned
blue
blur
blurred blurry
blustered
boastful
bodacious
boggled
bogus
boiling
boisterous
bold
bombarded
bombastic
bonkers
boorish
bored
boring
bossed-around
bossy
bothered
bothersome
bottled
bottled up bought
bouncy
bound
bound-up
bounded
boundless
boxed-in
boxed-out
bowled over
braced
brainwashable
brainwashed
brainy
brash
bratty
brave
brazen
breathless
breathtaken
breathtaking
breezy brief
bridled
bright
bright eyed
bright eyed and bushy tailed
brilliant
brisk
bristling
broad
broadminded
broken
broken-hearted
broken-down
broken-up
brooding
broody
browbeaten
bruised
brushed-off
burly
busted brutal
brutalized
brutish
bubbly
bucky * see note below
buffeted
bugged
buggered
bulldozed
bullied
bullish
bullshitted
bullshitted to
bummed
bummed out
buoyant
burdened
burdensome
buried
burned
burned-out burned-up
bursting
bushed
bushwhacked
busy
buzzed
bypassed

C
=========
caged
caged in
cagey
cajoled
calculating
callous
callow
calm
calmed down cannibalized
canny
cantankerous
capable
capitulated
capitulating
capitulation
capricious
captious
captivated
captivating
captive
captured
cared about
cared for
carefree
careful
careless
careworn
caring
carried away cast
cast about
cast down
cast out
castigated
catapulted
catatonic
categorized
cathartic
catty
caught
cautious
ceaseless
cavalier
censored
censured
centered
certain
chafed
chagrined
chained challenged
challenging
changeable
changed
changing
chaotic
chapfallen
charged
charismatic
charitable
charmed
charming
chased
chaste
chastised
chatty
cheap
cheapened
cheated
cheated on
cheeky cheerful
cheerless
cheery
cherished
chewed-up
chic
chicken
chided
childish
childless
childlike
chilled
chilling
chilly
chipper
chivalrous
choked
choked-up
choosy
chosen
chucked out
chuffed
churlish
circumspect
circumvented
civil
civilized
clammy
classy
claustrophobic
clean
cleansed
clear
cleared
clear-headed
clenched
clever
clingy
cloistered
close
closed
closed in closed-minded
clouded
cloudy
clowned (made a fool of)
clued in
clueless
clumsy
clung to
coarse
coaxed
cocky
codependent
coddled
coerced
coherent
cold
cold-blooded
cold-hearted
collapsed
collapsing
collected colonized
colorful
colossal
comatose
combative
comfortable
comforted
comfy
commanded
commanding
committed
common
commonplace
communicative
communistic
comparative
compared
compassionate
compatible
compelled
compersion competent
competitive
complacent
complementary
complete
complex
compliant
complicated
complimentary
complimented
composed
compressed
compromised
compromising
compulsive
compunction
conceited
concentrated
concerned
condemned
condescended to condescending
confident
confined
confirmed
confirming
conflicted
conforming
conformist
confounded
confronted
confronting
confrontive
confused
congenial
connected
conned
conniving
conquered
conscientious
conscious
consecrated conservative
considerate
considered
consistent
consoled
consoling
conspicuous
conspiratorial
conspired against
constrained
constricted
constructive
consulted
consumed
contagious
contained
contaminated
contemplative
contempt
contemptible
contemptuous content
contented
contentious
contrarian
contrary
contradictory
contributing
contrite
controlled
controlling
convenient
conventional
convicted
convinced
convincing
convivial
cooed to
cooing
cool
cooped up
cooperative copasetic
coped with
copied
coping
cordial
cornered
corralled
correct
corrosive
corrupt
corrupted
counterfeit
counter-
productive
courageous
courteous
courtly
coveted
covetous
cowardly
coy cozy
crabby
crashed
crafty
cramped
cranky
crap
crappy
crass
craven
craving
crazed
crazy
credible
creeped out
creepy
creative
credulous
crestfallen
criminal
crippled critical
criticized
crooked
cross
crossed
cross-examined
crotchety
crowded
crucial
crucified
cruddy
crude
cruel
crummy
crumpled
crushed
cryptic
cuckolded
cuckoo
cuddled
cuddly
culled
culpable
cultivated
cultured
cumbersome
cunning
cupidity
curious
curmudgeonly
cursed
cut
cut-down
cute
cut-off
cynical

D
========
daffy dainty
damaged
damaging
damned
dandy
dangerous
dapper
dared
daring
dark
dashed
dashing
dastardly
daunted
dauntless
dazed
dazzled
dazzling
dead
dead inside
deadpan dear
debased
debated
debauched
debilitated
debilitating
debriefed
decadent
debonair
deceitful
deceived
decent
deceptive
decisive
decided
decimated
decorous
decrepit
decried
dedicated
deep deeply
defamed
deafened
defeated
defective
defenseless
defensive
deferent
defiant
deficient
defiled
definite
deflated
deformed
degenerate
degradation
degraded
dehumanized
dejected
delayed
deleted deleterious
delicate
delighted
delightful
delinquent
delirious
delivered
deluded
demanding
demeaned
demeaning
demented
democratic
demolished
demonized
demoralized
demoralizing
demoted
demotivated
demure
denatured denigrated
denounced
dense
denurtured
dependable
depended upon
dependent
depleted
deported
depraved
deprecated
depreciated
depressed
deprived
derailed
deranged
derided
derisive
desecrated
deserted
deserving
desiccated
desirable
desire
desired
desirous
desolate
despair
despairing
desperate
despicable
despised
despondent
detailed
destitute
destroyed
destructive
desultory
detached
detained
deteriorated
determined detest
detestable
detested
detoxified
devaluated
devalued
devastated
developed
deviant
devil-may-care
devious
devoid
devoid of...
devoted
devoured
devout
diabolical
diagnosed
dictated to
dictatorial
didactic different
difficult
diffident
diffused
dignified
diligent
dim
dimensionless
diminished
diminutive
diplomatic
dire
direful
direct
directionless
dirty
disabled
disaffected
disagreeable
disalike*
disappointed disappointing
disapproved of
disapproving
disarmed
disbelieved
disbelieving
discardable
discarded
disciplined
discomfit
discombobulated
disconcerted
disconnected
disconsolate
discontent
discontented
discounted
discouraged
discouraging
discredited
discriminated
discriminating
discreet
disdain
disdained
disdainful
disembodied
disempowered
disenchanted
disenfranchised
disengaged
disentangled
disfavored
disgraced
disgraceful
disgracing
disgruntled
disguised
disgust
disgusted
disgusting
disharmonious disheartened
disheveled
dishonest
dishonorable
dishonored
disillusioned
disinclined
disingenuous
disintegritous *
disinterested
disjointed
dislike
disliked
dislocated
dislodged
disloyal
dismal
dismayed
dismembered
dismissed
dismissive disobedient
disobeyed
disorderly
disorganized
disoriented
disowned
disparaged
dispassionate
dispensable
dispirited
displaced
displeased
disposable
dispossessed
disputed
disquieted
disregarded
disrespected
disruptive
dissatisfied
dissected dissed
dissident
dissipated
dissociated
distant
distinguished
distorted
distracted
distraught
distressed
distrusted
distrustful
disturbed
disused
ditched
divergent
diverted
divested
divisable
divided
divorced dizzy
docile
dogged
dogmatic
doleful
dolorous
domestic
domesticated
dominant
dominated
dominating
domineered
domineering
done
doomed
dooped
dorky
doted on
doting
double-crossed
doubted doubtful
dour
dowdy
down
down and out
down in the dumps
downcast
downhearted
downtrodden
draconian
dragged down
drained
dramatic
drastic
drawn away
drawn back
drawn in
drawn toward
dread
dreaded
dreadful dreamy
dreary
dried-up
driven
driven away
driven out
droll
droopy
dropped
drowning
drubbed
drummed
drunk
dry
dubious
dull
dulled
dumb
dumbfounded
dumped
dumped on dumbstruck
duped
dusty
dutiful
dwarfed
dying
dynamic
dysfunctional
dysphoric
dysthymic

E
========
eager
early
earnest
earthy
eased easy
easy-going
ebullient
eccentric
eclectic
eclipsed
economical
ecstatic
edgy
edified
edifying
educated
effaced
effective
effeminate
effervescent
effete
efficacious
efficient
effusive
egocentric egotistic
egotistical
elastic
elated
elevated
elderly
electric
electrified
elegant
elevated
elite
eloquent
elusive
emancipated
emasculated
embarrassed
embittered
emboldened
embryonic
emerged
eminent
emotional
emotionless
emotionally bankrupt
emotionally bloated
emotionally constipated
emotionally literate
emotionally illiterate
emotive
empathetic
empathic
emphatic
empowered
empty
empty of (feeling word)
enabled
enamored
enchanted
enchanting
enclosed
encompassed
encouraged encouraging
encroached upon
encumbered
endangered
endeared
endearing
endowed
endurable
endured
enduring
energetic
energized
enervated
enfeebled
enfeebling
engaged
engrossed
engulfed
enhanced
enigmatic
enjoyment enlightened
enlivened
enmeshed
ennobled
ennui
enormous
enraged
enraptured
enriched
enslaved
entangled
enterprising
entertained
entertaining
enthralled
enthusiastic
enticed
enticing
entitled
entombed
entranced entrapped
entrenched
entrepreneurial
entrusted
enveloped
envied
envious
envy
equal
equality
equanimous
equable
equipped
equitable
eradicated
erratic
erasable
erased
eros
escalated
essential established
esteemed
estranged
ethereal
etiolated
euphoric
evaded
evaluated
evanescent
evasive
evicted
evil
eviscerated
exacerbated
exacerbating
examined
exasperated
exasperating
exasperation
excellent
excessive excitable
excited
excluded
exclusive
excommunicated
excoriated
exculpated
execrated
excused
exempt
exempted
exhausted
exhilarated
exiled
exigent
exonerated
exorcised
exotic
expansive
expatriated
expendable expensive
expectant
experienced
experimental
exploitative
exploited
exported
explosive
exposed
expressive
expunged
extraordinary
extravagant
extreme
extricated
extroverted
exuberant
exultant

F ========
fabricated
fabulous
facetious
factious
faded
failful *
faint
fainthearted
fair
faith
faithful
fake
fallacious
fallen
fallible
fallow
false
falsely
falsely accused faltering
famished
famous
fanatical
fanciful
fancy
fantabulous
fantasizing
fantastic
farcical
fascinated
fascinating
fascination
fashionable
fast
fastidious
fat
fatalistic
fathered
fatherless
fatigued fatuous
faulty
favored
fawned
fawned over
fawning
fazed
fear
feared
fearful
fearless
feckless
fed up
feeble
feeling
feigned
feigning
feisty
felicitous
feminine
fermenting
ferocious
fertile
fervent
fervor
festive
fettered
fickle
fidgety
fiendish
fierce
fiery
filthy
fine
finicky
finished
fired
firm
first
first-class
first-rate
fit fixated
flabbergasted
flagellated
flagrant
flailed
flaky
flamboyant
flammable
flappable
flashy
flat
flattered
flawed
flawless
fledgling
fleeced
flexible
flighty
flimflammed
flimsy
flip flippant
flipped-out
flirtatious
flirted with
flogged
floored
flowery
fluffy
fluid
flummoxed
floundering
flourishing
flush
flustered
fluttering
flustrated
focused
fogged in
foggy
foiled
followed fond
foolhardy
foolish
forbearance
forbearing
forbidden
forced
forced away
forced in
forced out
forceful
foreign
fore-sighted
forgetful
forgettable
foggy
forgivable
forgiven
forgiving
forgotten
forlorn formal
formed
formidable
forsaken
fortified
fortunate
forward
foul
fouled
fouled-up
fractured
fragile
fragmented
frail
framed
frank
frantic
fraternal
fraternal loyalty
fraudulent
fraught frazzled
freaked
freaked out
freakish
freaky
free
free and easy
frenetic
frenzied
fresh
fret-filled
fretful
fretting
fried, fried out
friendless
friendly
frightened
frigid
frisky
frivolous
frolicsome froward
frowned upon
frowning
frugal
fruitful
frustrated
frustration
fulfilled
full
full of...
full of energy
full of life
full on
fuming
funereal
fun
functional
funky
funloving
funny
furious furtive
fury
fussy
futile
future minded
future oriented
futuristic

G
=======
gabby
gagged
gainful
gallant
galled
galvanized
game
gamey gamy
ganged up on
gaped at
gaping
garbled
garrulous
gauche
gaudy
gawky
gay
geeky
generous
genial
gentle
genuine
ghastly
giant
gigantic
giddy
gifted
giggly gilded
giving
glad
glamorized
glamorous
gleaming
glee
gleeful
glib
gloomy
glorious
glowing
glossy
glum
gluttonous
goose bumpy
gnawing
goaded
gobsmacked
gobstruck
goobered
good
good-looking
good-natured
goofy
gorgeous
gory
gothic
graceful
gracious
graded
grand
grandiose
granted
grateful
gratified
grave
great
greed
greedy
green
gregarious grey
grief
grief-stricken
grieved
grieving
grim
groovy
gross
grossed-out
grotesque
grouchy
grounded
groveling
grown
grown up
gruesome
grumpy
guarded
gubered (goobered)
guided
guilt guilt-free
guilt-tripped
guiltless
guilty
gullible
gushy
gutless
gutsy
gutted
guttural
gypped

H
=======
habitual
hacked off
haggard
haggled hallowed
half assed
half crazy
half hearted
half mad
half witted
halted
halting
hammered
hampered
handicapped
handsome
handsomely
hapless
happy
happy-go-lucky
harangued
harassed
hard
hardened
hard-headed hard-hearted
hard-pressed
hard-working
hardy
harmed
harmless
harmonious
harnessed
harried
hassled
hasty
hate
hated
hateful
hatred
haughty
haunted
hazy
headstrong
heady
healed health-conscious
healthy
heard
heartbreaking
heartbroken
heartened
heartful
heartless
heartrending
heartsick
heart-to-heart
hearty
heavy
heavy-hearted
heckled
heeded
held dear
helped
helpful
helpless
henpecked hep
herded
heroic
hexed
hesitant
hideous
high
highfalutin
highfaluting
high-spirited
hilarious
hindered
hip
historical
hoaxed
holistic
hollow
homely
homesick
honest
honorable honored
hoodwinked
hope
hopeful
hopeless
hormonal
horny
horrendous
horrible
horrific
horrified
horror
horror-stricken
hospitable
hostile
hot
hot to trot
hot-headed
hot-tempered
hounded
huge humane
humble
humbled
humdrum
humiliated
humiliation
humility
humored
humorous
hung up
hung over
hungry
hunky dory
hunted
hurried
hurt
hustled
hyped-up
hyper
hyperactive
hypervigilant hyphe, hyphee, hyphy
hypnotic
hypnotized
hypocritical
hypomanic
hysterical

I
=======
icky
idealistic
idiosyncratic
idiotic
idle
idolized
ignoble
ignominious
ignorant
ignored
ill
ill at ease
ill-humored
ill-tempered
illegal
illicit
illiterate
illuminated
illustrious
imaginary
imaginative
imbalanced
immaculate
immature
immense
imminent
immobile
immobilized
immodest
immoral
immortal immune
impaired
impartial
impassioned
impassive
impatient
impeccable
impeded
impelled
imperatived*
imperfect
imperiled
imperious
impermanent
impermeable
impertinent
imperturbable
impervious
impetuous
impious
impish implacable
impolite
important
imported
importunate
imposed-upon
imposing
impotent
impoverished
impractical
impressed
imprisoned
impudent
impugned
impulsive
impure
in a huff
in a quandary
in a stew
in alignment
in control in despair
in doubt
in fear
in harmony
in pain
in the dumps
in the way
in touch
in tune
inaccessible
inactive
inadequate
inane
inappropriate
inattentive
incapable
incapacitated
incensed
incoherent
incommunicative
incompatible incompetent
incomplete
inconceivable
inconclusive
incongruent
inconsiderate
inconsistent
inconsolable
inconspicuous
inconvenienced
inconvenient
incorrect
incorrigible
incredible
incredulous
inculcated
indebted
indecent
indecisive
indefinite
indemnified indentured
independent
indescribable
indestructible
indicted
indifferent
indignant
identified
indirect
indiscreet
indoctrinated
indolent
indulgent
industrious
inebriated
ineffective
ineffectual
inefficient
inept
inert
inequality inexcusable
inexpendable
inexperienced
inexplicable
infallible
infamous
infantile
infantilized
infatuated
infected
inferior
infirm
inflamed
inflammatory
inflated
inflexible
influenced
influential
informal
informed
infuriated infused
ingenious
ingenuous
ingratiated
ingratiating
inhibited
inhospitable
inhumane
inimical
injured
injusticed*
innate
innocent
innovative
inoculated
inquiring
inquisitive
insane
insatiable
inscrutable
insecure insensitive
inside-out
insightful
insignificant
insincere
insipid
insistent
insolent
insouciant
inspired
instinctive
instilled
instructive
insufficient
insulted
insulting
insurgent
intact
integritous *
intellectual
intelligent intense
intent
intentional
interested
interesting
interfered with
interfering
internal
interrelated
interrogated
interrupted
intimate
intimidated
intimidating
inoculated
intolerant
intoxicated
intrepid
intrigued
introspective
introverted
intruded upon
intrusive
inundated
intuitive
invalidated
invalidating
inventive
invested
invested in
invigorated
invincible
invisible
invited
inviting
involved
invulnerable
irascible
irate
irked
irrational
irrelevant irreligious
irreproachable
irresistible
irresolute
irresponsible
irreverent
irritable
irritated
isolated
itchy

J
=======
jaded
jagged
jangled
jarred
jaundiced
jaunty jazzed
jazzy
jealous
jealousy
jeered
jejune
jeopardized
jerked around
jilted
jinxed
jittery
jobless
jocular
jolly
jolted
jostled
jovial
joyful
joyless
joyous
jubilant judged
judgmental
judicious
juggled
juiced
juiced up
jumbled
jumped
jumped on
jumpy
junk
junked
junky
just
justiced*
justified
juvenile

K
=======
kaput
keen
kept
kept at bay
kept away
kept in
kept out
kicked
kicked around
kicked back
kidded
kind
kindhearted
kindly
kingly
kinky
knackered
knightly
knocked
knocked down
knocked out knotted
knotted up
knotty
knowing
knowledgeable
known
kooky

L
=======
labeled
labile
labored
lascivious
lackadaisical
lacking
lackluster
laconic
lagging behind laid-back
lambasted
lame
lamentable
lamentful *
lamenting
lampooned
languid
languishing
lascivious
lassoed
large
late
laughable
laughed at
lavish
lavished
lax
lazy
lean
learned led astray
leaned on
leaning
lecherous
lectured to
leery
left out
legal
legitimate
let down
lethal
lethargic
level
level-headed
lewd
liable
liberal
liberated
licentious
lied about
lied to lifeless
lifelike
lifted
light
light-hearted
likable
likeable
liked
limerent
limited
limp
lionhearted
listened to
listless
literate
litigious
little
lively
livid
loath
loathed loathing
loathsome
logical
lonely
lonesome
longing
loopy
loose
loosed
lopsided
lorded over
lost
loud
lousy
loutish
lovable
love
loved
loveless
lovely
loving
lovelorn
lovestruck
low
low-spirited
lowly
lowness
loyal
lubricious
luckless
lucky
ludicrous
lugubrious
luminous
lured
luring
lurking
lush
lust
lustful
lusty
luxuriant luxurious
lying
lynched
lyrical

M
======
macabre
macho
mad
maddened
maddening
made fun of
madly
magical
magnificent
maimed
majestic
makeshift maladjusted
malaise
maligned
malcontent
malleable
malevolent
malice
malicious
malignant
maligned
malnourished
mammoth
man handled
manageable
managed
managerial
mangled
maniacal
manic
manipulable
manipulated manipulative
manly
marauding
marginalized
marked
married
marshalled around
marvelous
masochistic
massive
masterful
materialistic
maternal
mature
maudlin
meager
mean
meanness
measly
mechanical
medicated mediocre
meditative
medmanic
meek
megalomaniacal
melancholic
melancholy
melded
mellow
melodic
melodramatic
menaced
menacing
mended
merciful
mere
merry
mesmerized
messed about
messed around
messed with messed up
messy
methodical
meticulous
micro-managed
miffed
mighty
militant
mind-bent
mind-blown
mind-*ucked
mind-gamed
mind-shattered
mind-warped
mindful
mindless
miniature
minimized
miniscule
minor
miraculous mirthful
misaligned
misanthropic
mischievous
miscreant
misdiagnosed
miserable
miserly
misgiving
misguided
misidentified
misinformed
misinterpreted
misled
misrepresented
missed
missed out
missing
missing out
mistaken
mistreated mistrusted
mistrustful
misunderstood
misused
mixed-up
moaning
moany
mobbed
mobile
mobilized
mocked
mocking
modern
modest
molded
moldy
molested
mollified
mollycoddled
momentous
monitored monopolistic
monopolized
monstrous
moody
mopey
moping
moral
moralistic
morbid
mordant
moribund
moronic
morose
mortified
mothered
mothering
motherless
motherly
motivated
mournful
mouthy moved
mucked up
muddied
muddled
muffled
multi-directional
mummified
mumpish
mundane
murderous
murky
mushy
musical
mutinied
mutinous
muzzled
mysterious
mystical
mystified

N
======
nagged
nailed
naive
naked
namby pamby
nameless
nannied
nappy
narcissistic
narrow
narrow-minded
nasty
native
natural
naughty
nauseated
nauseating
neat nebulous
necessary
need
needed
needled
needless
needy
negated
negative
neglected
negligent
neighborly
nerdy
nervous
nervy
nestled
nettled
neurotic
neutral
new
nice nifty
niggardly
niggled
nihilistic
nippy
nit-picked
nit-picking
nit-picky
noble
noiseless
noisy
nomadic
nonchalant
noncommittal
nonconforming
nonconformst
nondescript
nonexistent
nonplused
nonresistant
normal nosey
nosy
nostalgic
nothing
noticed
nourished
nourishing
novel
noxious
nudged
null
nullified
numb
numbed
nursed
nurtured
nurturing
nuts
nutty

O
=======
obedient
obeyed
objectified
obligated
obliged
obliging
obliterated
oblivious
obnoxious
obscene
obscured
obsequious
observant
observed
obsessed
obsessive
obsolete
obstinate obstructed
obvious
odd
off
off the hook
off-balance
off-center
offended
offensive
officious
ogre-ish
okay
old
old-fashioned
omnipotent
on
on call
on display
on time
one-upped
open open-minded
opinionated
opportunistic
opposed
opposition
oppositional
oppressed
optimistic
opulent
ordered around
orderly
organized
orgasmic
ornery
orphaned
ostentatious
ostracized
ousted
out of balance
out of control
out of it out of place
out of sorts
out of style
out of touch
out of tune
outdated
outdone
outgoing
outlandish
outnumbered
outpowered
outraged
outrageous
outranked
outreasoned
outspoken
over
over-controlled
over-depended upon
over-done
over-educated over-pathologized
over-prepared
over-protected
over-ruled
over-simplified
overanxious
overbearing
overcome
overdrawn
overestimated
overjoyed
overloaded
overlooked
overpowered
oversensitive
overwhelmed
overworked
overwrought
overszealous
owed
owing owned
ownership
owning

P
======
pacified
paid off
pain
pained
painful
paired
paired-off
paired-up
pampered
panic
panicked
panicky
paralyzed
paranoid
parasitic
pardoned
parsimonious
partial
passed by
passed off
passed over
passed up
passionate
passive
pastoral
paternal
pathetic
pathologized
patient
patronized
peaceful
peachy
peaked
peckish peculiar
pedantic
pedestalized *
pedestrian
peeved
peevish
pell-mell
penetrable
penetrated
pensive
peonized
peppy
perceived
perceptive
peremptory
perfect
perfectionistic
perfused
perilous
peripheral
perky permanent
permeable
perplexed
persecuted
persevering
persistent
persnickety
perspicacious
perspicuous
persuaded
persuasive
pert
pertinacious
pertinent
perturbed
perused
perverted
pervious
pesky
pessimistic
pestered pesty
petered out
petrified
petrinoid
petty
petulant
phat
philanthropic
phlegmatic
phony
picked apart
picked on
pierced
pigeon-holed
pillaged
pillaging
pious
piqued
pissed
pissed off
pissed on pissy
piteous
pitied
pitiful
pitiless
pity
pixelated
placated
placid
plagued
plain
planless
played with
playful
pleading
pleasant
pleased
pleasure
pliable
pliant
plumbed plundered
plundering
plunging
plush
poised
poisoned
polite
polluted
pompous
pooped
poor
poorly
popular
porous
portentous
positive
possessed
possessionless
possessive
postal
potent pouty
powerful
powerless
practical
praised
pragmatic
pre-judged
preached to
precarious
precious
precluded
precocious
preoccupied
predjudiced
prepared
preposterous
preppy
prescient
pressed
pressured
prestigious presumptuous
pretentious
pretty
preyed upon
pride
prim
primal
primary
primitive
prissy
pristine
private
privileged
privy
prized
proactive
probationary
probationed
probed
prodigal
prodigious productive
profane
professional
progressing
progressive
progress-minded
promiscuous
promised
promoted
promotional
prone to
propagandistic
propagandized
propelled
proper
prophesized to
prophetic
prosaic
prosecuted
prosperous
prostituted protected
protective
proud
provincial
provisional
provocative
provoked
prudish
psyched
psychopathic
psychotic
puerile
pugnacious
puffed up
pulled
pulled ahead
pulled apart
pulled away
pulled back
pulled down
pulled forward
pulled in
pulverized
pummeled
pumped
pumped up
punctual
punch drunk
punched
punished
puny
pure
purged
purlish
purposeful
pursuant
pursued
pushed
pushed ahead
pushed away
pushed back
pushed forward pushed in
pushy
pusillanimous
put away
put down
put out
put upon
put down
puzzled
psychedelic

Q
======
quaint
quaking
qualified
qualmish
quandary
quarantined quarrelsome
quashed
queasy
queer
queried
querulous
questioned
questioning
quick
quiescent
quiet
quietened
quirky
quivery
quixotic
quizzed
quizzical

R
======
rad
radiant
radical
rage
rageful
raging
raided
railroaded
raked
raked-over
rambunctious
rancid
randy
ransacked
rapacious
raped
rapt
rapture
rapturous
rare rash
rated
rational
rattled
raunchy
ravenous
ravished
ravishing
raw
re-energized
re-enforced
reachable
reactionary
reactive
ready
real
realistic
reamed
reamed out
reasonable
reassured rebellious
reborn
rebounding
rebuffed
rebuked
recalcitrant
receptive
recharged
reckless
reclusive
recognized
recommended
reconciled
recouperated
recovered
recruited
redeemed
red-hot
reduced
refactory
refined reflective
refreshed
refueled
regal
regimented
regressing
regressive
regret
regretful
rejectable
rejected
rejecting
rejoiced
rejoicing
rejuvenated
relaxed
released
relentless
reliable
reliant
relieved religious
reluctant
remedied
reminiscent
remiss
remorse
remorseful
remorseless
remote
removed
renewed
renown
renowned
repatriated
repelled
repentant
replaceable
replaced
replenished
reprehensible
repressed reprimanded
reproached
reproved
repugnant
repulsed
repulsive
rescued
resented
resentful
resentment
reserved
resigned
resilient
resistant
resisting
resolute
resolved
resourceful
respected
respectful
responsible responsive
rested
restful
restive
restless
restrained
restricted
retaliated
retaliated against
retaliatory
retarded
reticent
retired
reunited
revealed
revengeful
revered
reverent
reviled
revitalized
revisited
revived
revolted
revolting
revolutionary
rewarded
rich
ridden
ridiculed
ridiculous
riding high
right
righteous
rigid
rigorous
riled
ripped
ripped off
riveted
robbed
robot like
robotic robust
romantic
rotten
rough
rowdy
rubbery
rubricized
rude
rudderless
rueful
ruffled
ruined
ruled
run down
run out
run over
rushed
ruthful
ruthless

S
=====
sabotaged
sacrificed
sacrificial
sacrilegious
sad
sadistic
safe
sagacious
sage
salacious
sanctified
santifying
sanctimonious
sanctioned
sandpapered
sane
sanguinary
sanguine sapient
sarcastic
sardonic
sassy
sated
satiated
satisfied
saturated
saturnine
saucy
saved
savvy
scandalized
scandalous
scapegoated
scared
scarred
scathed
scattered
scheming
scientific scintillated
scintillating
scurrilous
scoffed at
scolded
scorn
scorned
scornful
screwed
screwed over
screwed up
scrutinized
sealed out
sealed in
sealed off
sealed out
sealed up
searching
seared
second
secondary second-class
second-guessed
second-rate
secure
sedate
sedentary
seditious
seduced
seductive
seeking
seething
seized
selected
selective
selt-abasing
self-absorbed
self-acceptance
self-acceptant
self-accepting
self-agrandizing
self-assured self-centered
self-confident
self-conscious
self-critical
self-deprecating
self-depreciating
self-destructive
self-disciplined
self-effacing
self-expressed
self-flagellating
self-forgiving
self-hate
self-hating
self-hatred
self-indulgent
self-loathing
self-love
self-pitying
self-pleasing
self-reflective self-rejection
self-reliant
self-righteous
self-sacrificing
self-satisfied
self-serving
self-understanding
selfish
selfless
senile
sensational
sensible
sensitive
sensual
sensuous
sentenced
sentimental
separated
serene
serendipitous
serious servile
set
set up
settled
sexy
shadowed
shaken
shaky
shallow
shamed
shameful
shaped
sharky
sharp
shattered
sheepish
sheltered
shielded
shocked
shook-up
shortchanged shot-down
shouted at
shredded
shrewd
shrunk, shrunken
shunned
shut out
shy
sick
sick at heart
sickened
side-lined
significant
silenced
silent
silly
simple
simplified
sincere
sinful
single
singled-out
sinister
sinking
skanky
skeptical
sketchy
skilled
skillful
skipped
skittish
slack
slain
slandered
slaughtered
sleazy
sleepy
slap happy
sledged
slighted
sloppy
sloshed slothful
slovenly
slow
slugged
sluggish
slutty
sly
small
smarmy
smart
smart-alecky
smart assy
smacked
smacked down
smashed
smitten
smooth
smothered
smudged
smug
snapped at snarky
snarled at
sneaky
snobbish
snobby
snoopy
snowed
snubbed
snuggled
soaring
sociable
social
socialistic
sodden
soft
soft-hearted
sold
sold-out
solemn
solid
solitary somber
soothed
sophisticated
sophomoric
sordid
sore
sorrow
sorrowful
sorry
sough
sound
sour
soured
spared
sparkling
spartan
spastic
special
speechless
spellbound
spent spewed on
spewed out
spineless
spirited
spiritless
spit on
spit out
spiteful
splendid
splendiferous
spoiled
spontaneous
spooked
sprightly
spry
spunky
squandered
squashed
squeamish
squeezed
squelched stable
stained
stale
stalked
startled
starved
static
steamed-up
stepped-on
stepped-over
stereotyped
sterile
stern
stewing
stiff
stifled
stigmatized
still
stilted
stimulated
stingy stirred
stodgy
stoic
stolid
stomped on
stoned
stonewalled
stoppable
stopped
stout
stout hearted
straight-laced
straightjacketed
strained
stranded
strange
strangled
strengthened
stressed
stretched
stricken strict
stroked
strong
strong-armed
strong-willed
struck
struck down
stubborn
stuck
stuck-up
studious
stuffed
stumped
stunned
stunning
stunted
stupefied
stupendous
stupid
stylish
suave subdued
subjugated
submissive
subordinate
subordinated
subservient
subtle
subversive
subverted
successful
sucked up to
suckered
suffering
suffocated
suicidal
sulking
sulky
sullen
sullied
sunk
sunny super
superb
supercilious
superficial
superior
superseded
superstitious
supported
supportive
suppressed
sure
surly
surpassed
surprised
surreal
surrendered
surveyed
susceptible
suspended
suspending
suspicious
swamped
sweet
swell
swindled
switched on
sycophantic
symmetrical
sympathetic
sympathy
systematic

Wednesday, March 28, 2012


they slow down traffic..expect a car, truck etc to make way for them...and they get into accident the car driver gets most of the blame. One should not cycle on the road as its a danger..sinkies dont like to do dangerous things..so why put yourself in danger by cycling on the road? fight with cars?? its like bringing a pen knife into a gun fight...

AsiaOne
Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012

A doctor said he did not know he had hit two cyclists during an accident when he lost control of his car and ended up killing one of the riders.

General practitioner Teo Tiong Kiat, 64, told the court on Tuesday that he thought his car must have hit the two cyclists when he walked back to the accident scene along Clementi Road on March 21, 2010.

The Straits Times reported that Teo admitted to causing the death of freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, and injuring another cyclist, Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 24, by failing to keep a proper lookout when swerving from the centre to the left lane.

He testified that he was driving along Clementi Road on his way home after dinner when he felt the car swerving to the left and wobbling.

He said he lost control of the car and heard a loud sound.

When he finally got it together, he drove down the slip road to Upper Bukit Timah Road and parked at the carpark to inspect his badly damaged bonnet, windscreen and roof.

The Straits Times reported that Teo thought it was amazing that his car was so badly damaged and yet he did not have an injury.

Later, his office manager came to the carpark and pointed out the missing front number plate.

Teo then walked back to the scene where he saw police and his number plate by the side of the road.

Teo said that if he had realised that he was involved in an accident, he would have helped those injured at the time.

"I also want to add that as a doctor, it is my duty and my training to render assistance to the poor, and to the sick, all the more so if I had known that I had caused injury to somebody, I would have definitely rendered my assistance," he said.

Thursday, August 25, 2011


Dr Wong Tien Yin & Dr Chia Shi Lu (former President's scholars) who studied medicine in NUS to that list, who also served NS as M.O.s after their bachelors degree.
So it's very clear that Dr Patrick Tan DID receive special treatment to study medicine in the US (which was unprecedented then) with a President's scholarship!!! ...and did not have to undergo military training in MOCC!

1 August 2011 11:53
Anonymous said...
By getting a 12 year disruption, does that not effectively shorten the actual period of Patrick Tan's reservist liability? Most Singaporeans start serving their reservist liability soon after their ORD, not when they are in their 30s.

More importantly, by not serving as a Medical Officer in the army (which is a Captain's rank), but only serving as a 3SG, doesn't he get the benefit of a discharge of reservist liability at the age of 40, instead of 50 if he had been a Captain? So he would have 10 years less reservist liability than other NS men with medical degrees!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011


A German banker who hit and killed a cyclist while driving was slapped with the maximum fine yesterday. He had been trying to beat a red light when the accident happened.

Walter Alfred Heinz Fuchs, 43, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of causing the man's death through a negligent act. He was given a $10,000 fine and banned from driving for six years.

He was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a jail term of up to five years.

The head of Hypo Vereinsbank's treasury in Singapore admitted that he had failed to keep a proper lookout when he hit Mr Chan Ah Soo, 75, on July 17 last year.

In court yesterday, Fuchs, who was dressed in a suit, folded his arms just before being sentenced.

Before District Judge Adrian Soon handed down the sentence, he asked the banker to put down his hands.

The court heard that Fuchs was driving a rented Rover along Upper Cross Street at 10.15 pm that night.

He beat the red lights and hit Mr Chan, who was riding his bicycle at the pedestrian crossing.

The crossing lights were in the cyclist's favour and he was believed to be on his way to his home in York Hill, off Chin Swee Road. He was thrown off his bicycle on impact and died on the spot.

Fuchs' lawyer, Senior Counsel R. Palakrishnan, said in mitigation that his client, who is married with two children, had an unblemished driving record.

His client, he said, came to Singapore in September 2000 to be executive director of the German bank.

In February last year, he became the top man in charge of the bank's treasury as well as market and liquidity risks in Asia.

Mr Palakrishnan said that Fuchs, who has been driving for 20 years, suffered trauma after the accident and was still undergoing counselling.

He added that the cyclist should not have used the pedestrian crossing to ride across the five-lane road, and so was wrong to an extent.

Urging the court to impose a 'minimal fine', he said this was a case of 'momentary inattention or misjudgment'.

Sunday, April 3, 2011


The lack of scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs is the result of lack of financial education. Students only learn to pass exams, but do not learn how to be creative to make a lot of money and then make their money work for themselves. If the schools do not do this, then families must educate their children on their own in this matter.

Concerned Citizen:
April 4, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I witnessed one case of abuse of authority in army. I was on Friday’s guard duty and was surprised to see 2 cars of ladies approaching the gate at 2200hrs. As the sentry on shift I approached them and find out what they want. A lady came out of the car and demanded entry to the camp. She said they are here to attend a function at the officer’s mess. I told her no entry to civilian after 1800hrs. She got angry and raised her voice saying she knows MAJ XXX. I told her to wait and inform my Duty Guard Commander.

My guard commander is a colleague of mine. A good regular specialist. He came out and told them the same thing I said and that lady started to abuse him verbally! Saying he will be charged if he does not allow us to enter! My guard commander

….. got really angry by this time and called up the duty officer and explained to him about the situation. Less than 10 minutes later, the duty officer and MAJ XXX drove to the guard house and escorted the ladies to the officer mess. Before they left, MAJ XXX warned my guard commander and everyone at the guard room that he will make sure we get into big trouble if we mention this to anyone. We were all so angry with this blatant violation of security! My guard commander wanted to call SIB but all of us asked him not to as alot of us NSF will be ORD in another 6 months and we do not want any trouble. The next morning at about 0400hrs. The 2 cars with the ladies left the camp. From what we heard from the mess boy, it was not unlike an orgy in the officer mess that night! The poor duty officer, who is a nice decent guy was implicated in this unsavoury incident.

Thursday, March 31, 2011


In his plays the incredibly trenchant German playwrite Bertolt Brecht satirized the East German communists is casting them as such:

"If the people let down the Communist Party, then it was up to the communist party to 'dissolve' the people and get themselves a new people".

This reversing of democracy is indeed a twisted idea of such a horrific and unimaginable magnitude -- which is one of the reasons Brecht is still considered a thinking-genius today.

You could look on the PAP doctrine through the lens of Bertolt Brecht: The people getting too disobedient and disrespectful of the 'wonders' of 'the world's best government'? simple: Get new people.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

To study locally or overseas? 5 factors to consider When choosing to further their studies locally or overseas, there are factors students take into serious consideration before making their decision. Here are some of the main concerns of graduating students. 1. Cost Spending expenses surfaced as the number one factor when students decide if they should pursue their degree overseas. "I'm lucky. My parents are able to support my overseas education." - Rachel Goh, 20, University of Melbourne "It's also cheaper here. The course fees abroad and locally are more or less the same, except that overseas, you have to pay more for living expenses." - Sabrina Tan, 19, SIM - University of London 2. Proximity from family and friends Daily interaction and activities with friends and family will greatly lessen. From seeing the people closest to you every day, you are now at least a plane ride away. "I preferred studying in Australia rather than the UK or US as it is much nearer (to home)." - Charles Ma, Alumni at Monash University. "My mum didn't feel safe with me studying overseas alone" - Sabrina Tan, 19, SIM - University of London 3. Lifestyle changes "I migrated to New Zealand 10 years ago, so integrating back into the Singaporean education system would have been much too great a challenge for me." - Rachel Woon, 21, University of Auckland "Having to alter my late sleeping habits to wake up early and start the day since malls in Melbourne close at 5PM. You cannot afford to sleep most of your day away here." - Rachel Goh, 20, University of Melbo 4. Academic programmes Of course, before enrolling in any school, the choices of graduating students are greatly affected by the pedagogy in each institution. "I wanted a change in terms of exposing myself to different style of learning. Also, I wanted to challenge myself in a foreign environment." - Jan Lin, Alumni at University of Melbourne "The unique pedagogy attracted me. Classes aren't conducted in the conventional lecture-tutorial styles. SMU prides itself over its seminar-styled broad-based education and I found that extremely appealing" Zizie Zuzantie, 20, on her choice - Singapore Management University 5. Future Prospects Students will most definitely want to spend their time and money on a course of study which will aid them in the future career choices they make. "Studying at NTU as opened up opportunities for me. It has made it much easier to find a job." - Soon Qiao Ying, 22, Alumni at National Technological University "Statistically, it's a highly ranked university and highly regarded amongst employers." - Rachel Goh, 20, University of Melbourne Simple. Study overseas and start working overseas. Local talents are less appreciated that FTs. However overseas we are the FTs, living the good life, less stress, more open spaces, to ski, snowboard, rock climbing, hiking, cheaper cars n homes. Back in S'pore we'll be in debt the rest of our lives with such cost. These days when someone tells you that his child is going overseas for his Uni education, two questions cross the mind. Is he a scholar or a NUS/NTU/SMU reject? Peter Low .....your brain is so shallow

Sunday, March 20, 2011


Dirty secrets of foreign recruitment unveil

Last week, I approached a Job agency use by our company to
source for candidates, as our HR manager had left the company,
I was put in charge to look for an IT programmer, I received
several suitable resume from other source, they were mainly
local applicants. Then this job agency called me up, the boss
was Micheal, he was very friendly, he told me of the great working
relationship he had with the previous HR manager.

As he carry on describing his services, he mentioned about red packets.
you see, if our company were to employ locals which is widely available,
this Job agency will not get any commission, because local will not pay
commission to the job agencies. Therefore to get the commision from our
company and the job applicants, they have to get foreigners who are more
willing to pay. So he was proposing to me that if I were to select his
foreign candidates, I will get a cut of the commission from our company and
the foreigners, and he reminded me that our previous manager always works
that way.

I thank him for his services, but i told him, that respective dept choose the
applicants, not me.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011



1 Bill Gates, Microsoft founder
2 Homer, Greek poet
3 Cui Jian, Chinese singer
4 Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary
5 Pavel Korchagin, Russian artist
6 Bill Clinton, former US President
7 Peter the Great, Russian leader
8 Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister
9 Bruce Lee, martial arts actor
10 Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister
11 Henri Matisse, French artist
12 Gengis Khan, Mongolian warlord
13 Napoleon Bonaparte, French military leader
14 Che Guevara, Marxist revolutionary
15 Fidel Castro, former Prime Minister and President of Cuba
16 Marlon Brando, actor
17 Yasser Arafat, former leader of Palastine
18 Julius Caesar, Roman emperor
19 Claire Lee Chennault, Second World War US Lieutenant
20 Luciano Pavarotti, singer
21 George W. Bush, former US President
22 The Prince of Wales
23 Liu Xiang, Chinese hurdler
24 Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General
25 Zhang An (the painter)
26 Mikhail Gorbachev, former Russian leader
27 Li Tiezi (the painter)
28 Dante Alighieri, Florentine poet
29 Dai Dudu (the painter)
30 Pele, footballer
31 Guan Yu, Chinese warlord
32 Ramses II, Egyptian pharoah
33 Charles De Gaulle, French general
34 Albert Nobel, Swedish chemist, founder of Nobel prizes
35 Franklin Roosevelt, former US President
36 Ernest Hemingway, American novelist
37 Elvis Presley, American singer
38 Robert Oppenheimer, American physicist
39 William Shakespeare, English playwright
40 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer
41 Steven Spielberg, American film director
42 Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter
43 Marie Curie, physicist and pioneer of radioactivity
44 Zhou Enlai, first Premier of the People’s Republic of China
45 Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, German writer
46 Laozi, Chinese philosopher
47 Marilyn Monroe, American actress
48 Salvador Dali, Spanish painter
49 Dowager Cixi, former ruler of China
50 Ariel Sharon, former Israeli Prime Minister
51 Qi Baishi, Chinese painter
52 Qin Shi Huang, former Emperor of China
53 Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic Missionary
54 Song Qingling, Chinese politician
55 Rabindranath Tagore, Indian poet
56 Otto Von Bismarck, German statesman
57 Run Run Shaw, Chinese media mogul
58 Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Swiss philosopher
59 Audrey Hepburn, Belgian-born actress
60 Ludwig Van Beethoven, German composer
61 Adolf Hitler, Nazi leader
62 Benito Mussolini, Italian fascist politician
63 Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq
64 Maxim Gorky, Russian writer
65 Sun Yat-Sen, Chinese revolutionary
66 Den Xiaoping, Chinese revolutionary
67 Alexander Pushkin, Russian author
68 Lu Xun, Chinese writer
69 Joseph Stalin, former Soviet Union leader
70 Leonardo Da Vinci, Italian painter
71 Karl Marx, German philosopher
72 Friedrich Nietzche, German philosopher
73 Abraham Lincoln, former US President
74 Mao Zedong, Chinese dictator
75 Charlie Chaplin, British actor
76 Henry Ford, founder of Ford motor company
77 Lei Feng, Chinese soldier
78 Norman Bethune, Canadian physician
79 Sigmund Freud, Austrian psychiatrist
80 Juan Antonio Samaranch, former International Olympic Committee president
81 Chiang Kai Shek, Chinese general
82 Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom
83 Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist
84 Li Bai, Chinese poet
85 Corneliu Baba, Romanian painter
86 Auguste Rodin, French artist
87 Dwight Eisenhower, former US President
88 Michael Jordan, American basketball player
89 Hideki Tojo, former Japan Prime Minister
90 Michelangelo, Italian Renaissance painter
91 Yi Sun-Sin, Korean naval commander
92 Mike Tyson, American boxer
93 Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister
94 Hans Christian Andersen, Danish author
95 Shirley Temple, American actress
96 Albert Einstein, German physicist
97 Moses, Hebrew religious leader
98 Confucius, Chinese philosopher
99 Ghandi, Indian spiritual leader
100 Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch painter
101 Toulouse Lautrec, French painter
102 Marcel Duchamp, French artist
103 Behind George Bush is Osama bin Laden

Tuesday, March 8, 2011


Not to practice but to do research

http://thinkhappiness.blogspot.com/2006/08/meeting-david-marshall-in-1994.html

1956 – ON Repressing And ILLICIT Love-Making!

“Repression, Sir is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love – it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is to dissolve organizations and societies and banish and detain the key political workers in these societies. Then miraculously everything is tranquil on the surface. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio together can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again they’re conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict.” – Lee as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October 1956

we use this concept of family cohesion to place on our youths the burden of caring for aging and ailing parents and grand-parents.

The young have got their own lives to make. To carry in your own homes aging irritable ailing parents and grandparents can destroy the family life of the young.

But then, the alternative is for the government to pour so much mountains of gold into building homes for the aged. That’s sacrilege – gold is to be gathered and not to be spent.

I want to see more crèches, more homes for the aged.